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CHINESE WINGS REACH HERE
Miss Lee Ya-ching, Chinese aviatrix here on a good will mission, stands beside her ship, the Spirit of New China, at Swan Island airport.  She is flying alone on a nation-wide tour raising funds for the Chinese people. 

Chinese Aviatrix Certain Her Country Will Win

By Larry Smyth

With an Easter rabbit for company in her speedy Stinson plane, Miss Lee Ya-ching, winsome Chinese aviatrix, flew into Swan Island airport at 4 pm. Saturday. She sent word ahead from Red Bluff, Cal., that she would be here at 4 p. m. At that moment she set her fleet ship, the Spirit of New China, down on the field.  

On a good will mission to the United States, a tour which has taken her over most of the country but with many more cities yet to visit, Miss Lee is raising funds for the Chinese refugees through engagements and public speaking. 

How old is she?  That question went unanswered as the delightful little flier, her arms full of roses given to her by friends in Portland Chinese organizations, sat in the administration office at the airport for several minutes before she was escorted in a parade to the Multnomah hotel. 

She first learned to fly in Switzerland and then went to the Boeing school at Oakland for advanced training. She has been flying ever since and has been around the world several times. She flies alone, save for the little rabbit which occupied the seat beside her. That was an Easter present given to her in Miami and she thinks it a good luck charm. 

China will win the war with Japan, she said, determinedly.

"The Chinese nation is better off today in its war with Japan than it was 20 months ago," she said. "The nation is united.  The Chinese are confident of ultimate victory and know they will win in time."

The only Chinese member of the "Caterpillar" club, famed organization of pilots who have been forced to bale out and save their lives by parachute jumps, Miss Lee earned her membership at Oakland.  

"I was flying over San Francisco bay with my instructor," she explained. "My belt broke when I was upside down and out I went. I fell into the bay and was there 25 minutes before I was picked up. I don't swim and it was a close call. I nearly drowned." 

Miss Lee was the dinner guest of S.C. Su, acting Chinese consul, and Mrs. Su last night. Later she spoke at Benson Tech. Today she is to be guest of the Chinese Women's club at noon and will be honored at a banquet at 6 p. m., both in the Hung Far Low restaurant. At 8 p. m. she will speak at the Chinese Benevolent society hall, 315 N. W. Davis street. Monday noon she will address the Chamber of Commerce after a brief speech at Reed college.  

Su and Dr. T. D. Lee, president of the China society, headed several hundred Chinese who greeted the flier at the airport. 

THE OREGON SUNDAY JOURNAL, PORTLAND, SUNDAY MORNING, MAY 7, 1939.

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